Patents Issued in February 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9561628
    Abstract: A method for preparing a portion of a tire for repair includes the steps of providing a template having a pair of guide edges, securing the template to an interior surface of the tire, providing a tool for forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, with the tool, along the guide edges of the template, and removing the template from the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Metodi Lubenov Ikonomov, Cesar Enrique Zarak, Nathan Joel Panning, Michael Edward Widmyer
  • Patent number: 9561629
    Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include an optical film and at least one rough strippable skin layer. The at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a continuous phase and a disperse phase. In some embodiments, the at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a first polymer, a second polymer different from the first polymer and an additional material that is substantially immiscible in at least one of the first and second polymers. In some exemplary embodiments, a surface of the at least one rough strippable skin layer adjacent to the optical film comprises a plurality of protrusions and the adjacent surface of the optical film comprises a plurality of asymmetric depressions substantially corresponding to said plurality of protrusions. Methods of making such exemplary optical bodies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Carl A. Stover, Martin E. Denker, Jeffery N. Jackson, Kristopher J. Derks, Michael F. Weber, Anna A. Wetzels, Joan M. Strobel, Barry S. Rosell, John P. Purcell, Kevin M. Hamer, Robert D. Taylor, William B. Black, Richard J. Thompson, Gregory L. Bluem
  • Patent number: 9561630
    Abstract: Tire for a heavy goods vehicle comprising a tread of total thickness E and total volume V, having a tread surface intended to come into contact with a roadway, at least one cavity or groove that is continuous in a main direction, and delimited by side walls connected by a bottom, a cross section, the points furthest towards the inside of the bottom of each cavity defining a bottom line, wherein each cavity or groove comprises a plurality of open sections open onto the tread surface in the new state and a plurality of closed sections, connected to the open sections being arranged in alternation, each closed section being spaced away from the tread surface by a bridge of rubber, wherein the points on the bottom line of said cavity or groove lie at distances between a minimum distance Dm and a maximum distance DM with respect to the tread surface, the bottom line of each cavity or groove following a wavy geometry of positive amplitude equal to the difference (DM?Dm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Audigier, Stéphane Oraison, Christophe Bessac
  • Patent number: 9561631
    Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing and molding a tire, this tire having a tread delimited by two sidewalls, the mold having a ring for molding the tread of the tire and two shells for molding the sidewalls, the mold having an annular groove extending in a recessed manner in one of the shells and an insert housed in the groove, this insert including at least one groove which is concentric with the insert and provided with a section that decreases in the depthwise direction of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Villeneuve, Christian Gomet, David Dean
  • Patent number: 9561632
    Abstract: A method for forming an elongate support structure having a central hollow portion is disclosed including arranging an elongate core member to extend horizontally and then forming a core assembly by locating a first tensioning member at a first end where the first tensioning member including tensioning elements extending from the first end of the core member along the outside of the core member to a second tensioning member located at the second end of the core member. An external mold assembly is attacked to the core assembly between the first and second tensioning members to form a combined mold and core assembly and to also form a cavity extending around and along the central core member through which the plurality of tensioning elements extend. The tensioning elements are then tensioned and the combined mold and core assembly is then positioned in an upright orientation and concrete injected into the cavity formed between the elongate core member and the external mold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Vijay Investments Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamas Dale Hume
  • Patent number: 9561633
    Abstract: Provided is a hot isostatic pressing device (HIP) (1) that enables prompt cooling in a processing chamber. The HIP device (1) is provided with the following: gas impermeable casings (3, 4); a heating unit (7); a high-pressure container (2); a heat accumulator (43) provided below a processing chamber; and a cooling promotion flow path (44). The casings (3, 4) are disposed so as to form the following: a first circulation flow (41) in which a pressure medium gas passes through an inner flow path (22) and an outer flow path (12) and then returns to the inner flow path (22); and a second circulation flow (42) in which the pressure medium gas which has branched off from the first circulation flow (41) performs heat exchange with an object-of-processing (W) in the processing chamber and then is fed back to the first circulation flow (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Nakai, Katsumi Watanabe, Makoto Yoneda
  • Patent number: 9561634
    Abstract: The invention relates to a scraping device for a rotary tablet press comprising a scraper that is designed to scrape off material for pressing that is located on the top side of a die plate of the rotary tablet press, the die plate rotating relative to the scraper, and comprising a force-generating apparatus that is designed to press the scraper with a predetermined compression against the top side of the die plate, characterized in that the force-generating apparatus comprises a fluid pillow filled with a fluid that is in contact with the scraper directly or via at least one transmission element in order to press the scraper by the predetermined compression against the top side of the die plate. The invention also relates to a rotor for a rotary tablet press, as well as a rotary tablet press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Fette Compacting GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Kolbe, Alexander Oldenburg
  • Patent number: 9561635
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material into respective housings of a third transfer conveyor; transferring the portions from the third transfer conveyor inside respective containment bags carried by a second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags from the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9561636
    Abstract: A device for adjusting components of a printing material processing machine, in particular a folding-box gluing machine, includes at least one group of processing stations which have an associated operating element and a remote control as well as a safety-path computer and an operating-path computer. A first step for initiating an adjustment process of the components is carried out by a common signal transmitter both when operating a switch on the machine and when operating the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Diehr, Markus Donges, Andreas Geider, Uwe Hartstock, Michael Rehberg, Frank Schmid
  • Patent number: 9561637
    Abstract: A panel structure having a low-density core that can withstanding loads normal to a first primary surface, and a first facing of high-density sheet material that can extend along the first primary surface. The high-density sheet material can be laminated on the core such that the laminated core and facing cooperatively resist bending loads and loads along the primary surface. The first facing can extend from the first primary surface on a side of the core along a secondary surface, which can be non-parallel to the first primary surface. The first facing can bend along a score line between the first primary surface and the secondary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hexacomb Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence James French, Robert Edward Jaegers, Scott David Daniel
  • Patent number: 9561638
    Abstract: This method includes the arrangement of a first sheet (22A) of porous material on a first face (18) of a base layer and of a second sheet (22B) of porous material of a second face (20) of the base layer before a heating step. Each sheet (22A, 22B) of porous material has a thickness of less than that of the formed layer (16). The sheets (22A, 22B) of porous material confine between them the molten polymeric material derived from the heat fusible polymer fibers during the heating step. The sheets (22A, 22B) of porous material are bound to the formed layer (16) after the step for building up the formed layer (16), in order to make up a first composite body (12A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Industrie
    Inventors: Stève Jeunesse, Valérie Marcel
  • Patent number: 9561639
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intermediate film for laminated glass that can increase the heat-insulating properties of laminated glass. The intermediate film for laminated glass according to the present invention is an intermediate film for laminated glass having a one-layer structure or a laminated structure of two or more layers, an intermediate film 1 for laminated glass has a first layer 2 containing silicon dioxide particles 51 having hollow parts and shell parts and having a porosity of 40% or more and 80% or less, when the intermediate film 1 for laminated glass has a one-layer structure, the first layer further contains a thermoplastic resin, and when the intermediate film 1 for laminated glass has a laminated structure of two or more layers, the intermediate film 1 for laminated glass further has a second layer 3 which is arranged on a first surface 2a side of the first layer 2 and which contains a thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD., GRANDEX CO., LTD., NAGOYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Juichi Fukatani, Daizou Ii, Tadahiko Yoshioka, Masayoshi Fuji, Kyoichi Fujimoto, Chika Takai, Kozo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9561640
    Abstract: A label for a bottle where the label is comprised of a laminate where an outer layer (3) is a material susceptible to losing opaqueness when made wet, and an inner layer (5) behind this first layer which is a material that is opaque, and such that it will maintain such opaqueness when wet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Collotype Services Pty Ltd., Avery Dennison Materials Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: John Frankhuisen
  • Patent number: 9561641
    Abstract: A method for continuously manufacturing an optical display panel includes feeding a carrier film 12 on which an optical film 13 is placed with a pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween, peeling off the optical film 13 from the carrier film 12 by using a folding-back part 40a to inwardly fold back the carrier film 12 being fed, taking up the carrier film 12 from which the optical film 13 is peeled off, feeding an optical cell P and bonding the optical film 13, which is peeled off from the carrier film 12, to the optical cell P with the pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween, and reducing a difference between a first tension on the carrier film 12 located upstream of the folding-back part 40a and a second tension on the carrier film 12 located downstream of the folding-back part while reducing one of the first and second tensions before the bonding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirata, Seiji Kondo, Kazuya Hada, Satoru Koshio
  • Patent number: 9561642
    Abstract: A screen printing system includes a screen printing machine. The screen printing machines includes a screen printing unit with a screen. A platen arm assembly includes a platen configured to move in a telescoping direction from at least a first position where the platen is positioned under the screen to a second position that is different from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Rick L. Fuqua
  • Patent number: 9561643
    Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus which has excellent maintainability despite an increase in its length and size is provided. A light irradiation apparatus includes a plurality of light irradiation modules arranged; and a casing which houses at least part of the plurality of light irradiation modules. The plurality of light irradiation modules each includes a light irradiation device, a heat-dissipating member, a cooling piping for supply, a cooling piping for discharge which discharges a coolant from the flow channel, an electrical wiring, and a cover. The casing includes a side-cover and an under-cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Uchida
  • Patent number: 9561644
    Abstract: A method and system compensates for malfunctioning inkjets using contone values for an image prior to the contone values being rendered for printing of the image. The method generates contone values for color space components in a compensation level for each malfunctioning inkjet. The contone values in each compensation level are modified with reference to a profile selected for each malfunctioning inkjet and with reference to the modification of the contone values in the vicinity of each malfunctioning with the compensative level. The modified contone values of each compensation level are merged with the contone values in the vicinity of each malfunctioning inkjet. The contone values are then rendered and used to operate inkjets for forming an ink image on an ink receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond J. Clark, Roger L. Triplett, Stuart A. Schweid, Martin L. Frachioni
  • Patent number: 9561645
    Abstract: Provided is an image-forming apparatus that limits reductions in image quality such as streaking even when print element discharge failure occurs in the overlap region of short heads that configure a long head. In the overlap region, among multiple overlap areas configured from rows of consecutive print elements that do not comprise print elements that have been specified as discharge failure print elements, the overlap area with the largest number of overlapping print elements is specified. When the number of print elements in said overlap area is greater than a fixed number, an overlap control for gradually changing the discharge apportionment for the fixed number of print elements in each short head is performed. Since the discharge failure of the print element is present in an area in which the short head print apportionment is 100%, the discharge failure is supplemented by, for example, increasing the discharge amounts of the adjacent print elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenichirou Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 9561646
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a high speed adaptive thermal printhead interface. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program instructions, the computer program instructions being configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine identifier information for a connected printhead; retrieve printhead interface configuration data for a configurable printhead interface based at least in part on the identifier information; configure printhead interface circuitry in accordance with the printhead interface configuration data; and enable communication with the printhead through the configurable printhead interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Dwight D. Dipert, Ashok K. Charles, Daniel Donato, Robert Ehrhardt, David Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9561647
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes: a display control unit that provides a plurality of choices for a type of printing medium and causes a user interface, on which one of the plurality of choices is selected by a user, to be displayed on a screen; and a storage unit that stores history of the choices selected at least twice. The display control unit first provides one or more choices of the plurality of choices on the user interface based on the history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ikumi Watanabe, Hiromichi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 9561648
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus stores ejection pattern information and slight vibration pattern information indicating two-dimensional arrangements of ejection information and slight vibration information, respectively. A controller transmits an ejection signal when the ejection information at a first position in the ejection pattern information is first information and when the slight vibration information at a second position in the slight vibration pattern information is third information or fourth information. The controller transmits a slight vibration signal the ejection information at the first position is second information and when the slight vibration information at the second position is the third information. The controller transmits a non-vibration signal when the ejection information at the first position is the second information and when the slight vibration information at the second position is the fourth information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sekiguchi, Yuichi Ito, Tomohiro Nodsu
  • Patent number: 9561649
    Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing. The apparatus operates the printhead or printheads in the printer to form test pattern on a thermal substrate. The heat of the materials used to form the test pattern increase the optical density of the areas where the materials land. The area where the test pattern is formed is imaged and the image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Patricia J. Donaldson, William H. Wayman
  • Patent number: 9561650
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a microfluidic die that includes a first larger heater and a second smaller heater is a single chamber. The first heater is configured to form a primary bubble that ejects fluid from a nozzle associated with the chamber. The second heater is configured to form a secondary bubble to prevent blow back caused when the primary bubble bursts and ejects fluid from the nozzle. The first and second heater may be coupled to a single input trace and a single ground trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Daniele Prati
  • Patent number: 9561651
    Abstract: An element substrate including a base having a heat-generating resistor element which generates thermal energy used for discharging a liquid; an electrically conductive protective layer covering the heat-generating resistor element; an insulating layer provided between the heat-generating resistor element and the protective layer; and a potential applying unit for applying a potential to the protective layer such that a potential of the protective layer is lower than a potential at one end of the heat-generating resistor element and higher than a potential at the other end of the heat-generating resistor element with a voltage being applied between the one end and the other end of the heat-generating resistor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Hatsui, Souta Takeuchi, Kenji Takahashi, Soichiro Nagamochi, Shinya Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 9561652
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an inkjet head comprises a plurality of groove-shaped pressure chambers formed on piezoelectric members of which the polarization directions are opposite, and a nozzle plate arranged at the lateral side of the pressure chambers across a lid section with high rigidity. A plurality of through holes connected to a plurality of nozzles formed on the nozzle plate is formed in the lid section. The inkjet head is set in a range of 10˜25% before and after a center, that is, a length ratio where the relation between ejection voltage of ink ejected from the nozzles and a length ratio between the length of the through hole of the lid section in the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber and the length of the pressure chamber in the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Shimosato, Hideaki Nishida, Keizaburo Yamamoto, Ryutaro Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 9561653
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a printbar beam member and a plurality of printheads disposed thereon. The printbar beam member includes a printbar longitudinal axis. Each one of the printheads includes a printhead longitudinal axis and a row of nozzles arranged parallel to the printhead longitudinal axis. The plurality of printheads are arranged on the printbar beam member in a manner in which each respective printhead longitudinal axis is traverse to the printbar longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing LTD.
    Inventors: Ron Tuttnauer, Alex Veis
  • Patent number: 9561654
    Abstract: A laminated nozzle assembly is provided. The laminated nozzle includes a first end plate having a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet, a second end plate, a plurality of nozzle plates positioned and clamped between the first end plate and the second end plate, a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet formed in one or more of the nozzle plates, a second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet formed in one or more of the nozzle plates, a first orifice in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit formed in one of the nozzle plates, and a second orifice in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit formed in the same nozzle plate as the first orifice. The laminated nozzle assembly minimizes the number of nozzle plates and includes no more than eight, and preferably no more than five nozzle plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mel Steven Lessley, Edward W. Bolyard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9561655
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a nozzle plate including a nozzle substrate having a plurality of nozzle holes to discharge a liquid therethrough and a plurality of dimples on the discharging surface of the nozzle substrate to hold a liquid repellent material inside the plurality of dimples in a flowable manner and a liquid repellency film formed by the liquid repellent material on the discharging surface of the nozzle substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Tamai, Toshiroh Tokuno
  • Patent number: 9561656
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer including an ink-jet head, a conveyance section, and a controller. The ink-jet head includes a plurality of nozzle groups. Between the plurality of nozzle groups, the nozzles forming the nozzle groups are positioned in conformity with each other, respectively, in a second direction. The controller causes the conveyance section to convey the recording medium between a first pass and a second pass such that the respective nozzle groups have partly overlapped scanning areas, and causes the ink-jet head to print separately between the first pass and the second pass in the second direction. The controller sets usable bordering positions in the overlapping range with respect to the passes. The controller sets the usable bordering positions based on one of such conditions as a duty of printing on the recording medium and a type of the nozzle groups to be used in printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunari Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9561657
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to microfluidic refill cartridges and methods of assembling same. The microfluidic refill cartridges include a microfluidic delivery member that includes a filter for filtering fluid passed therethrough. The filter may be configured to block particles above a threshold size to prevent blockage in the nozzles. For instance, particles having a dimension that is larger than the diameter of the nozzles can block or reduce fluid flow through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Dodd, Joe Scheffelin, Dana Gruenbacher, Roberto Brioschi, Teck Khim Neo, Dave Hunt, Faiz Sherman
  • Patent number: 9561658
    Abstract: The present invention provided a printing apparatus including: an ink storage section; a detection unit detecting an ink remaining amount of the section; a printhead; an air communication section communicating with the section and air; a suction unit; and a control unit. When a predetermined transport-preparation condition regarding transport of the printing apparatus is satisfied, the control unit saves information about the ink remaining amount detected by the detection unit and controls the suction unit to drain ink in the air communication section through the printhead. When a predetermined start-up condition is satisfied, the control unit controls, based on the information, the suction unit to suck ink from the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Danzuka, Masaya Uetsuki, Masataka Kato, Tsuyoshi Ibe, Asako Tomida, Hiroaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9561659
    Abstract: An ink ejection device includes a head section having a plurality of nozzles and ejecting a plurality of types of inks through the nozzles, and an ink supply section supplying the plurality of types of inks to the head section. The head section has a plurality of supply ports which are arranged in a scanning direction and to which the plurality of types of inks are supplied. The ink supply section includes a plurality of ink chambers which respectively contain the plurality of types of inks and are disposed to overlap one another in the up-down direction, a plurality of connection passages connecting the plurality of supply ports to the plurality of ink chambers containing the inks to be supplied to the supply ports, and a plurality of air discharge passages respectively connected to the plurality of ink chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Borther Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Kamo
  • Patent number: 9561660
    Abstract: An ink supply system, inkjet printer, and ink loading method are provided. The ink supply system includes an ink head comprising a nozzle; first and second ink containers; a first ink supply passage; a second ink supply passage; an ink amount detecting device configured to detect an amount of ink in the first ink container; and a notifying device to provide a notification when the detected amount of ink is less than or equal to a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiyoshi Iwase, Kazuya Morizono
  • Patent number: 9561661
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber with a liquid outlet configured to supply the liquid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the liquid chamber. A body is positioned in the chamber and is movable between a first position wherein movement of the body is restricted, and a second position wherein the body is movable along a movement path between the first and second positions. The body has a plurality of sides. A detector is positioned in the chamber and is movable in response to movement of the body between the first and second positions. The body defines a plurality openings that extend into the body through at least two sides of the body. A plurality of resist surfaces are formed by the plurality of openings, and the resist surfaces are configured to resist movement of the body between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 9561662
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a print supply cartridge comprises a microcontroller to receive a timing challenge and enable authentication of the cartridge by providing a challenge response. The challenge response is provided in a challenge response time that falls within an expected time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jefferson P. Ward, Stephen D. Panshin
  • Patent number: 9561663
    Abstract: An ink cartridge has an ink pack that holds ink and a case that holds the ink pack. The case has a case body forming an ink pack storage space R, and a cover that is removably attached to the case body. An ink supply opening is formed in the front wall of the case body, and a body-side pedestal protruding from the interior of the case body toward the cover inside the case is formed at the opposite end as the ink supply opening. When the cover is attached to the case with an ink pack inside, the back end part of the ink pack is held between a cover-side pedestal protruding from the interior of the cover and the body-side pedestal. The back side of the body-side pedestal forms an exterior recess on the case that can be used as a fingerhold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoteru Katsuki
  • Patent number: 9561664
    Abstract: A liquid storage container is provided with a liquid storage part capable of storing a liquid, and a liquid supply part for supplying the liquid to the outside. The liquid supply part has a porous member containing holes for circulating the liquid, and a biasing member which is disposed between the porous member and the liquid storage part and which biases the porous member from the liquid storage part towards the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakamura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Izumi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 9561665
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes: a head in which an ejection port to eject liquid as a droplet is formed; a buffer tank which is connected with the head through a supply channel and a collection channel and in which the liquid is housed; a deaeration module which is provided on the side of the supply channel; and a main tank in which the liquid supplied to the buffer tank through the supplement channel is stored, where: the supply channel is connected with a side surface of the buffer tank; the supplement channel penetrates the side surface of the buffer tank and has an exit of the supplement channel in the buffer tank; and the liquid supplied from the supplement channel has speed when the liquid collides with an inner wall surface of the buffer tank facing the exit of the supplement channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Okayama
  • Patent number: 9561666
    Abstract: Systems and methods for degassing fluid are disclosed. An example fluid ejection device including a channel having an entrance and an exit; a supply slot in communication with the channel; a vent; a first bubble impeding structure at the entrance of the channel; and a second bubble impeding structure at an exit of the channel, the first and second bubble impeding structures to retain a bubble within the channel to enable the bubble to be vented through a vent and to deter the bubble from entering the ink supply slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Alexander Govyadinov
  • Patent number: 9561667
    Abstract: A printer performs a partial multi-pass printing including an (a)-print process and a (b)-print process. The (a)-print process includes an (a1)-pass process and a (a2)-pass process executed between the (a1)-pass process and the (b)-print process. The (a2)-pass process is a last pass process executed in the (a)-print process. Active nozzles used in the (a1)-pass process and the (a2)-pass process include an upstream segment and a downstream segment, an intermediate segment between the upstream segment and the downstream segment. Dot recording rates of active nozzles included in the upstream segment used in the (a2)-pass process decreases toward the most-upstream nozzle of the active nozzles. The upstream segment of the (a2)-pass process has a length in a conveying direction smaller than a length of an upstream segment of active nozzles used in the (a1)-pass process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9561668
    Abstract: In a method of operating a transfer printing device, which includes a transfer ribbon having a series of transfer sections, a print unit, and a mark sensor, the transfer ribbon is fed in a feed direction. A transfer section that is available for printing is selected through the detection of an absence of a used mark in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon corresponding to the transfer section using the mark sensor. An image is printed to the selected transfer section using the print unit. A used mark corresponding to the selected transfer section is printed in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Stangler, James Andrew Rieck, Tanya Jegeris Snyder, Andrew Slotto, Lyndon James Hanson, Jon Everett Freise
  • Patent number: 9561669
    Abstract: A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Markem-Imaje Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Yohn, Mark Rapposelli, Kevin Franklin
  • Patent number: 9561670
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a rotational tray including a supporting surface for supporting a recording medium and a retaining mechanism. The rotational tray is attached to the housing to be rotatable so that an angle between the rotational tray and a side surface of the housing is changeable. The retaining mechanism is able to retain the rotational tray in one of: an open state in which a second discharging slot formed in the side surface of the housing is opened and the recording medium discharged from the second discharging slot is supportable by the supporting surface; a closed state in which the second discharging slot is closed by the supporting surface; and an intermediate state between the open state and the closed state, in which the recording medium discharged from the second discharging slot can be guided in a direction along the supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 9561671
    Abstract: A media transport system provides full vacuum under media as the media traverses an entire print path of an ink jet printer while simultaneously providing for a no-vacuum inter-copy gap that moves along with the media past print heads of the ink jet printer. This is accomplished with a dual vacuum inner/outer vacuum drum system that includes a first drum that has a matrix of holes that allows for full coverage of vacuum with a second underlying drum that is shifted to align a second set of holes to match the sheet pitch. By shifting the second drum in relation to the first drum, a combination set of holes is aligned to provide full vacuum across the media while a column of holes is blocked to provide a non-vacuum inter-copy gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K Herrmann, Jason M Lefevre, Derek A Bryl, Linn C Hoover
  • Patent number: 9561672
    Abstract: A printing system includes a first imaging unit configured to print a first image and a single registration mark associated with the first image on a substrate contemporaneously during a production run, and a sensor configured to detect the registration mark at a point where the registration mark is within a second imaging unit. The printing system further includes a controller configured to calculate an offset along a width direction of the substrate based on the single registration mark and to instruct the second imaging unit to print the second image on the substrate. The second image is shifted in its entirety in accordance with the calculated offset and is printed on the same side of the substrate as the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventors: Henderikus A. Haan, Anthony V. Moscato, Brett Rimes, Frank J. Rocco, Carl F. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 9561673
    Abstract: At a printer that feeds a continuous paper unwound from a paper sheet supply unit in a sheet-shape to a printing head portion side via a damper portion, and then prints on a label of the continuous paper, the damper portion is made of a transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kokuta, Akira Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9561674
    Abstract: An ink-jet printer is provided and includes: a motor, generating a driving force that prompts an ink-jet head moving in a main scanning direction relative to a print object; a motor, generating a driving force by which the ink-jet head is moved; a motor pulley, being rotated by the driving force generated by the motor; a first belt wound around the motor pulley to transmit the driving force from the motor pulley toward the ink-jet head; and a decelerating pulley on which the first belt is wound around to be rotated by the driving force transmitted on the first belt. At least one of a group of motor-side teeth of the motor pulley and belt-side teeth of the first belt and a group of deceleration-side teeth of the decelerating pulley and the belt-side teeth of the first belt is a combination of intermeshable spur gear teeth and helical gear teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Fukasawa, Masashi Hirano, Tsutomu Okano
  • Patent number: 9561675
    Abstract: A control method of a printing device comprising setting a threshold value based on a first detection value and a second detection value acquired from a detector when a target object is in a first state; comparing the threshold value with a detection value acquired from the detector and determining whether the target object is in a first state or a second state; and setting the threshold value at a time when printing starts on the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Todaka
  • Patent number: 9561676
    Abstract: A bio-based polyester thin film substrate for thermal transfer printing ribbon. The bio-based polyester thermal transfer ribbon substrate film has a radiocarbon content of at least 12 pMC. The film exhibits excellent uniformity, handling, and processability, substantially equivalent to petroleum-based counterparts, while being derived wholly or partly from non-petroleum sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TORAY PLASTICS (AMERICA), INC.
    Inventors: Stefanos L. Sakellarides, Milan William Moscaritolo
  • Patent number: 9561677
    Abstract: An imaging member includes a surface layer comprising a fluoroelastomer-fluorosilicone composite. Methods of manufacturing the imaging member and processes for variable lithographic printing using the imaging member are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Gervasi, Mandakini Kanungo, Santokh S. Badesha